Power Outage in La Grange, TX

The combination of an NWS damage survey and storm chaser video and documentation has concluded that an EF1 tornado occurred during the early evening hours of May 18th near Swiss Alp, TX in Fayette County. The tornado occurred in a large cluster of storms that were generally moving east across Fayette County. There were multiple mid-level circulations evident on radar during this event. So while a single tornado path has been created, there may have been other smaller satellite tornadoes or vortices that caused minor wind damage in other areas of Fayette County that evening. Storm Chaser video|showed a multi-vortex tornado on the ground near Swiss Alp and this discussion is the best conclusion we have on the path, width and strength of that tornado. Based on video, storm reports, and tree damage, it appears the tornado first touched down around 6:42 PM CDT just west of Hwy 77near the intersection of Hwy 77 and CR 956. Some minor tree damage was found in this area as well as power poles snapped on Hwy 77. As the tornado crossed Hwy 77, it became larger and multi-vortex as it moved northeast across open pasture and farmland. At approximately 6:48 PM CDT it caused significant damage to a cattle farm approximately one mile south of FM 1383. Metal roofing was removed from multiple cattle shade shelters, there was roof damage to|the business office, and partial structure collapse and roof damage to the main covered building, and cattle working area. Several trees had significant trunk and branch damage on the property as well. Metal roofing material was found several hundred yards away. The tornado continued to move northeast and eventually crossed Berger|Rd. Several trees were snapped along Berger Rd. and adjacent properties. It is not totally clear where the tornado dissipated as some sporadic minor tree damage was found farther NE by about a mile. Due to the weak nature of the damage, we elected to end the track just east of Berger Rd. at 6:52 PM CDT. Based on the damage seen on the ground, it is estimated that peak winds were near 100 mph (EF1) and the tornado was several hundred yards wide when it was multi-vortex. It was on the ground for a little over 3 miles.

The combination of an NWS damage survey and storm chaser video and documentation has concluded that an EF1 tornado occurred during the early evening hours of May 18th near Swiss Alp, TX in Fayette County. The tornado occurred in a large cluster of storms that were generally moving east across Fayette County. There were multiple mid-level circulations evident on radar during this event. So while a single tornado path has been created, there may have been other smaller satellite tornadoes or vortices that caused minor wind damage in other areas of Fayette County that evening. Storm Chaser video|showed a multi-vortex tornado on the ground near Swiss Alp and this discussion is the best conclusion we have on the path, width and strength of that tornado. Based on video, storm reports, and tree damage, it appears the tornado first touched down around 6:42 PM CDT just west of Hwy 77near the intersection of Hwy 77 and CR 956. Some minor tree damage was found in this area as well as power poles snapped on Hwy 77. As the tornado crossed Hwy 77, it became larger and multi-vortex as it moved northeast across open pasture and farmland. At approximately 6:48 PM CDT it caused significant damage to a cattle farm approximately one mile south of FM 1383. Metal roofing was removed from multiple cattle shade shelters, there was roof damage to|the business office, and partial structure collapse and roof damage to the main covered building, and cattle working area. Several trees had significant trunk and branch damage on the property as well. Metal roofing material was found several hundred yards away. The tornado continued to move northeast and eventually crossed Berger|Rd. Several trees were snapped along Berger Rd. and adjacent properties. It is not totally clear where the tornado dissipated as some sporadic minor tree damage was found farther NE by about a mile. Due to the weak nature of the damage, we elected to end the track just east of Berger Rd. at 6:52 PM CDT. Based on the damage seen on the ground, it is estimated that peak winds were near 100 mph (EF1) and the tornado was several hundred yards wide when it was multi-vortex. It was on the ground for a little over 3 miles.

A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 70 mph that blew down several power poles and knocked out power to over 2000 customers. Wind damage was reported in Swiss Alp, as well as West Point, Plum, Elm Grove, and Muldoon.

A thunderstorm moved over southern Fayette County near I-10 between Flatonia and Schulenburg. A weak tornado touched ground near Farek-Loth Rd where it turns north and becomes Ehler-Grasshof Road. A storage shed was destroyed along Ehler-Grasshof along with some minor tree damage. The tornado appears to have moved north and crossed Salem-Freyburg Rd where power lines where damaged off Gebert Road and large trees were down on Schultz Road. North of this area there was no visible damage as the path was not accessible. For this reason the tornado path was ended on Schultz Road. Maximum winds were estimated to be 80 mph.

A thunderstorm moved over southern Fayette County near I-10 between Flatonia and Schulenburg. A weak tornado touched ground near Farek-Loth Rd where it turns north and becomes Ehler-Grasshof Road. A storage shed was destroyed along Ehler-Grasshof along with some minor tree damage. The tornado appears to have moved north and crossed Salem-Freyburg Rd where power lines where damaged off Gebert Road and large trees were down on Schultz Road. North of this area there was no visible damage as the path was not accessible. For this reason the tornado path was ended on Schultz Road. Maximum winds were estimated to be 80 mph.

Tropical storm Bill moved onshore over Matagorda Island on the morning of June 16th. The center of Bill moved through Lavaca, Fayette, and Lee Counties on the 17th. The strongest recorded wind gust was 47 mph near Schulenburg in Fayette County. These winds knocked down trees and power lines there along with some other locations in Fayette County. Winds downed power lines in Lavaca County and blew the roof off an auction barn and onto power lines in Vienna. There were some small tree limbs blown down in DeWitt County. Flash flooding from heavy rain was more widespread in South Central Texas. Rainfall totals ranged from 3.34 inches in Bastrop County to 11.50 inches in Lavaca.

A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 58 mph that blew trees down onto power lines causing numerous blackouts.

Light freezing rain and drizzle began near noon on January 15 and forced the closing of many roads, bridges, and streets later that evening. Offices and businesses, as well as area schools, remained closed on January 16 and most of the following morning. No utility power outages were indicated.

Severe thunderstorm winds knocked over trees and blew down power lines in the LaGrange area.

Severe thunderstorm winds were reported by the Fayette County Sheriff's Department to have blown down trees and power lines in the LaGrange area.